Patent GB-702214-A (GB)
Title: Record card controlled electric checking apparatus
IPC: G06F11/10
Filed: 1950-09-19
Abstract: 702,214. Statistical machines. COMPAGNIE DES MACHINES BULL. Sept. 19, 1950 [Nov. 9, 1949], No. 23020/50. Class 106 (1) Apparatus for verifying record cards comprises a card sensing means of known type and means for sensing also a checking symbol which is recorded in a separate column, the checking symbol having an index value such that the complete number, -formed by the digits of the number recorded on the card plus the checking symbol number possesses a constant arithmetical property such as divisibility by eleven. The apparatus includes entering means, to enter successively the figures of the number to be recorded into a cyclic counter, the terminal state of the counter controlling the marking of the index value of the checking symbol, and the apparatus includes sensing means to read the whole of the complete number and means to enter successively the values of the figures of the complete number into a second cyclic counter, which indicates the agreement of the complete number with the arithmetical relation by returning to initial state at the end of the entry of the figure. The apparatus comprises a machine of known design, Fig. 4, for handling the cards from a magazine 22 under a sensing and punching section 23 to an ejection mechanism 25. In addition there is provided a step by step switch, or its electronic equivalent valve circuit, for emitting periodically spaced pulses, and an impulse counter having a storage capacity of the step by step type or its electronic equivalent. Also there is provided a visual indicator 30 for indicating a checking symbol and a device for perforating check cards and releasing cards after checking, or rejecting cards bearing an error. Use is made of the known fact that a number may be checked for divisibility by eleven by adding the odd and even digits together and subtracting one from the other, and if there is no remainder the number is divisible by eleven. In the apparatus described the odd and even digits are summed and the difference, if any, obtained, which forms a checking symbol. Thus, for example, 3204 is entered into the machine, adding odd and even digits 3+0=3 and 2+4=6, subtraction gives a remainder of 3 which is the checking symbol, and the number is punched on a card as 3204-3. The card puncher which is of known type comprises a bed 21, Fig. 4, a magazine 22 for blank cards, a punching unit 23, a punching track 24, a card ejecting device 25, and a magazine 26, to receive the cards and also a control keyboard 27. Current is fed to the machine by a cable 28, and a junction cable 29 connects the punching machine to the checking unit 30. The punching machine comprises the usual keyboard with keys bearing numbers ranging 0 to 12 and a space key TE bearing the letter E. A key TX bears the numeral I and is for punching the symbol. The punching machine or accounting machine comprises in principle electromagnets EO to EX, Fig. 3, for effecting the striking or punching and the electromagnet EE controls the release of the carriage of the machine for the spacing in the striking or punching, said electromagnet EE being under the control of a key TE or of an impulse coming from a contact stud 70 of the transmitter SE of the checking unit, Fig. 1, through the connection 79. An electromagnet EM in series with the electromagnet El to EX is arranged to close a contact EMI thereupon starting the transmitter SE of the checking unit for one cycle. When the selector counter SC, Fig. 2, of the checking unit is at zero an electromagnet EZ, Fig. 3, may be energized through the line 113 upon clearing of the contact EZI controlled by the carriage of the machine. Energization of contact EZ1 closes the contact EZ2 which energizes the device EZ3 for releasing the carriage of the machine. F and G, Fig. 3, indicate respectively the positive and negative terminals for the supply of current to the machine, the terminals being connected to the cable 28 of Fig. 4. The selector transmitter part of the checking unit represented in Fig. 1, comprises the actual transmitter, which is designated by the letters SE. In the example described, the transmitter comprises a change-over switch controlling a step by step automatic telephone selector having eleven positions. An electromagnet 40, Fig. 1, when energized, attracts a blade 41 connected to a lever 42 which rocks about a pin 47 the attraction of the blade by the electromagnet 40 tensions the spring 43 and an insulating push rod 44 mounted on the lever 42 displaces the blade 45 so as to open a contact 46. Secured to the end 48 of the lever 42 is pawl 49 adapted to engage with the toothed wheel 50 formed with 44 teeth. When the electromagnet 40 is no longer energized the spring 43 acts on the lever 42 causing the pawl 49 to engage the wheel 50 and rotate the latter by one tooth in the direction of the arms, the movement of the pawl 49 being arrested by the stop 51. A counter pawl 52 prevents the wheel 50 from returning when the pawl 49 is retracted under the actions of the electromagnet 40. In its rotational movement about the shaft 53, the wheel 50 drives four rows of double contact brushes keyed at 90 degrees apart, the four rows comprising those indicated at 551 to 552 and 561 to 562 in Fig. 1, and two other rows not shown. These brushes move, during the rotation of the wheel 50 over contact studs and sectors arranged in different superposed banks. As shown in Fig. 1, the selector transmitter SE comprises two pairs of banks of contacts. In the upper bank eleven contacts starts 60 to 70 are spaced over a quarter of a circle. In the immediately subjacent bank, an input stud 59 and a contact sector 72 are successively brought into contact with the studs of the upper bank by the brush 561 which, in initial positions, connects together the studs 60 and 59. In this same position, the brush 551 of the preceding row of brushes is no longer in contact with the stud 70 nor with the sector 72. The selector transmitter comprises a further pair of banks of contacts, one bank containing an input stud 75 and a contact sector 76 and the other bank, which is similar, an input stud 77 and a contact sector 78, these two banks are electrically connected together by a brush 562 an indicator is provided for showing the representative figure of the checking symbol for the number drawn by the figures dealt with. The indicator operates in combination with the relay 82' controlling the reversal, which controls through the coil 93 the movements of the contact blade 136 according to the position which it occupies on the studs 260 to 270 the brush is always capable of lighting up one or other of the lamps of one set of two lamps and it is the position of the contact blade 136 which determines through the circuit which it closes, which of these two lamps will be fixed on. In Fig. 2, these lamps are shown in two vertical rows comprising from top to bottom the lamps O X and so on to the left hand slide and the lamps 0 1 to 9 on the right hand side. In Fig. 4, the lamps corresponding to one symbol are assembled below the same window, so that regardless of whether it is a lamp 8 for example which is shown in the left hand row or the lamp 8 in the right hand row which is lit up it will be the same window 6 of the checking arrangement 30 which will be illuminated. A contact key P of the checking arrangement makes it possible, by closing 192 to initiate the automatic punching or impression of the checking symbol corresponding to a number entered in the checking arrangement. This contact may also be controlled by depressing the key TP of the keyboard of Fig. 3. which directly excites the electromagnet 187 and closes the contact 192 the electromagnet 94 controlled by the reversing relay 82 controls through the reverter 199 carrying all the blades 116, the passing of current to the appropriate electromagnet EO to EX for automatically recording the checking symbol. Operation.-The automatic feed mechanism of the punching machine having been started, a blank card is withdrawn from the magazine 22 and is then automatically positioned below the line of punches of the punching unit 23 in order to receive a record in a predetermined zone, the number 3204 with the representative figure of the checking symbol, for example, being recorded in the form of marks thereon. The key T3 of the keyboard is depressed, the corresponding contact is closed and the electromagnet E3 energized causing a perforation 3 to be punched in the card at the same time, the relay R3 of Fig. 1 is energized through the line 103 of the junction cable, thereby opening contact C3 and closing contact M3 the circuit of the electromagnet E3, Fig. 3, is closed at the negative terminal by the electromagnet EM which closes its contact EM 1 and the latter through the line 99 of the junction cable, a closed contact 129, Fig. 1, the line 124 and the unitary directional element 206 energize the electromagnet 40, which biases the spring 43 of the stepping mechanism of the selector transmitter SE. In order to enter the second figure of the number 3204 the key 2 of the keyboard is depressed. The electromagnet E2 is energized and causes a perforation 2 to be made the relay R2 is energized and at the same time closes its holder contact and opens the contact C2, EM is energized and closes EM1 and the electromagnet 40 are both energized. As the contact C2 is open and the electromagnet 92 has its contact blade in the position C the impulses coming from 62 to 70, that is nine impulses, the complement of two to eleven which are transmitted to the electromagnet 140 and SC advanced accordingly. The third figure of 3204 which is zero is then struck and the energized electromagnet EO records the perforation in the position zero of the following column of the card and, through the lines 100 and 91 and the unidirectional element 202, directly energizes the electromagnet 82 of th